Improvement in machines for filling or starching woven fabrics



entre site am effet THOMAsLEWIs LivsEY, or Buur, GREAT BRITAIN.

Letters Patent No. 110,252, dated December 20,1870.

IMPROVEMENT IN MACHINES FOR FILLING OR vSTARCHING WOVEN FABRICS.

The Schedule referred to .n these Letters :Patent and making part oi' the name.

I, TnoMAs Lnwrs LIvsEY, of Bury, in the countyv of Lancaster, Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, have invented certain Improvements in Machinery for Filling or Starching IVoven' Fabrics made from cotton, flax, or other fibrous substances, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to machinery or apparatus employed for lling or starching woven fabrics, the object of the said invention being to apply the filling or starch to one side of the fabric only, leaving the threads uncovered on the other surface.

Hitherto the lilling or starch has been applied to the fabric by means of a pair ot' calender-ing-rollers or bowls, which forced the iilling or starch completely through the fabric, covering thc threads, ou u both sides, and the pressure oi these rollers flattened the threads and injured the appearance of the-surface of the cloth.

In my improved apparatus I dispense with the use of calendering-bowls, and employ only one roller, which revolves in the trough or vessel containing the starch or illing,in connection with a series of revolving brushes for smoothing the surface, and with ,steam-chests o1' pipes for drying the starch or filling. rIhe cloth or fabric under operation first passes overa tension-bar or rai-l, and then over the edge of the `trough, and downward under and partly round the roller; one side of thel cloth, being exposed to the starch or filling inthe `trough or vessel, takes up a sucient quantity thereof, the said quantity being regulated by a doctor 7plate, which presses against the surface of the cloth as it leaves the trough in com tact with the roller, and prevents it from taking up too much of the starch or filling, the latter being also kept constantly agitated by a revolving beater mounted inside the trough.

rIhe-cloth then passes between the upper surface of the roller-and a revolving brush, which moves in vthe same direction, but faster than the cloth, and

brushes or smoothes the surface.

The cloth next passes over a series of similar revolving brushes and fans, beneath which are arranged steam-chests or pipes for drying the starch or iilling while it is being brushed, and it is then delivered in a dry, nished state ,by means of any convenient arrangement of folding or planting-down machinery.

In order to enable others skilled in the art to make and use my invention, I will now proceed to describe its construction and operation.

On reference to the accompanying drawing which forms part of this specitication- Figure l is a vertical section of the machine, and

Figure 2 is a front view of the same.

a a is the main framing of the machine, supporting, in suitable bearings, the roller b I), revolving in the trough c c which contains the starch or other lillng material.

cl d is the tension-bar or-rail, over which the cloth passes, and then inside the edge of the trough c c, and round the roller l) b, one side of the cloth being in close contact with the roller and the other exposed to the starch or filling material in the trough, soithat it takes up the requisite quantity as it passes through the trough.

e e isa revolving beater or agitator, for keeping the starch or filling material in constant movement and forcing it aga-inst the cloth.

j'fis a doctor-plate, pressing against the surface of the cloth while it is in contact with the roller, and adjustable, by means oisprings and levers f* fit, so as to regulate the quantity of filling material taken np by the cloth and smooth the surface of the same.

. g g is aY revolving brush, moving in the same direction as the roller b b, but at a quicker speed, so as to brush and smooth the surface.

h his a series of revolving brushes and fans, in contact with whicht-he cloth then'passcs, and

'fit are 'steam-chests or pipes placed beneath the same.

This series of revolving brushes and fans and steam-chests or pipes extends to a sniiicien't length' to complete the tinshiug and drying of the fabric before it arrives at'the folding or plaiting-down machine. which may be of. the ordinary construction.

Claims.

I claim as my invention-'-V l. The rollei` b, revolving in a trough and carrying t-he cloth through the starch ortilling material, in combination with a revolving brush, g, land a doctor;- plate, f, acting on the surface of the'cloth while it is in close contact with the roller, substantially as described.

2. The trough c, its agitator e, and roller l), in com bination with the brushes g h'h, heaters i, and fan, all arranged and operating as specified.v

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this speciiication in the presence oi' two subscribing GEORGE DAvlns, JOHN HUGHES. 

